What SLR systems can use Leica M lenses?

[minoltist7]

with some adapter indeed.
is that possible?

it seems not possible because of short flange, but who knows... maybe some tricks exist

 

[John Lawrence]

If you haven't seen it already, you might find this helpful:

http://leica.nemeng.com/017e.shtml

 

[erikhaugsby]

Some of Leica's longer lenses, like the 90/4, the early 90/2.8, and several of the 135s, allow their optical head to unscrew from the focus mount. By using this head, and not the M-mount, some lenses can be mounted to SLRs.

'Standard' M-mount lenses will not work with any mirrored SLR.

 

[payasam]

90 Elmar, looks like.

 

[CameraQuest]

The Visoflex lenses are easily adaptable to SLRs. You use the same Viso adapters you would use to mount the lens on a Visoflex, then just replace the Visoflex with the Visoflex adapter. I sell two such adapters at $175 each, to Nikon or Leica R bodies. http://www.cameraquest.com/viso5.htm

The only other choice are the various Micro 4/3 cameras (like the Panasonic G1) with thru the lens Electronic Viewfinder viewing. Just mount the adapter on the camera and then mount the Leica M lens. Not all lenses will mount due to various mount restrictions, but the huge majority will work. The adapter is $175 and will be available in late January.

Mounting standard mount M lenses onto other SLRs via an adapter will give you closeup focusing only -- not very useful.

Stephen

 

[ferider]

AFAIK, the only SLR that comes close in registration distance is the Oly Pen F. Wish somebody would make an adapter ....

Roland.

 

[CameraQuest]

AFAIK, the only SLR that comes close in registration distance is the Oly Pen F. Wish somebody would make an adapter ....

Roland.

Olympus made an adapter for Leica Screw Mount lenses, but it would not give infinity focus.

Stephen

 

[peterm1]

The other way around is much more common for obvious reasons. I have adapters for both M42 screw mount to LTM and Canon Fl mount to LTM. Both work fine and its interesting to try good quality but large SLR lenses on a Leica just for fun. Here is a pic of a canon FL mount 35mm f2.5 mounted on a Canon 1vSB.

 

[Doug]

Olympus made an adapter for Leica Screw Mount lenses, but it would not give infinity focus.

This would really be a nice adaptation, with the main concern being the mirror hitting the back of wide angle lenses. The Pen's film plane to lens flange distance is 28.95mm. But the mount opening is too small in diameter to admit an M lens all the way in to the flange.

 

[Al Kaplan]

There was a British made camera, the Perriflex, in the 1960's that took Leica thread mount lenses and it gave you through the lens ground glass focusing of the center of the frame. It had a small mirror on a stalk that swung down in front of the shutter. A conventional optical viewfinder was used for framing your shot.